'Le Grand Reve' back on market — for $21.9 million

A six-bedroom, 27,000-square-foot mansion in Winnetka that once was listed for $32 million came back on the market for $27 million. Full story

The six-bedroom, 27,000-square-foot mansion in Winnetka that once was listed for $32 million came back on the market last week for $21.9 million.

Dubbed "Le Grand Reve," the French-inspired, 26-room mansion has been off and on the market since 2009, when owners Sherwin and Deborah Jarol informally shopped it for $32 million.

In the fall, it came back on the market at $27 million. Last week, it returned to the market with a new listing agent, Maureen Mohling of Coldwell Banker, at its current asking price.

Brandmeier not budging on mansion price

For more than a year and a half, WGN-AM 720 morning host Jonathon Brandmeier has had his five-bedroom, 11,000-square-foot mansion in River North on the market for $5.9 million.

Most homeowners, faced with a home languishing on the market that long, usually cut the price to try to stimulate activity.

That hasn't been the case for "Johnny B." Brandmeier, 56, who first listed the six-level mansion, which he purchased in 2007 for $4.46 million, on June 6, 2011.

His listing agent, Laura Rubin of Baird & Warner, declined to comment, and Brandmeier did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Listing information states that Brandmeier and his wife have put $8 million into the mansion.

The 12-room mansion has six full baths, four half-baths, six fireplaces, a full-floor master suite, a movie theater, an elevator, multiple decks and an attached three-car garage.

As Elite Street previously noted, Brandmeier in 2011 sold his six-bedroom, 5,924-square-foot mansion in Malibu, Calif., for $4.1 million. He moved there in 1997 to pursue entertainment opportunities. He moved back to Chicago in 2005 to rejoin WLUP-FM.

Ex-congressman buys home from parents

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Dold and his wife, Danielle, paid $710,000 on Dec. 27 to buy their 3,044-square-foot house in Kenilworth from Dold's parents.

In November, Dold, 43, lost to Brad Schneider, D-Deerfield, in his bid for re-election to represent Illinois' 10th Congressional District. Dold declined to comment Wednesday to Elite Street on his purchase.

The house, built in 1957, is close to downtown Kenilworth. Dold's parents paid $392,500 for it in 1998.

Forte house fetches in excess of asking price

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sold his five-bedroom house in Vernon Hills on Jan. 31 for $735,500.

Last week, Elite Street reported that Forte was close to selling it. Forte, who paid $875,000 for the 12-room house in 2008, first listed it in November for $729,000.